James Thomas Watkins (born 20 May 1973) is an English filmmaker. He is best known for horror films such as Eden Lake (2008), The Woman in Black (2012), and Speak No Evil (2024). He has also directed episodes of series such as Black Mirror (2016) and The Ipcress File (2022), and was the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the series McMafia (2018). He directed the DC Universe film Clayface which is scheduled to be released in 2026.
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Early life
Watkins was born in Nottingham on 20 May 1973.
Career
Film
Watkins co-wrote the horror films My Little Eye (2002) and Gone (2007). In his directorial debut, he wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Eden Lake (2008).
It won Best Horror Film at the 2009 Empire Awards, the Special Jury Prize at the Sitges Film Festival, and Best Director at Fantasporto. Watkins was also nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.
Watkins was the co-writer and second unit director of The Descent Part 2 (2009). He directed the horror film The Woman in Black (2012) and co-wrote and directed the action thriller film Bastille Day (2016). He wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Speak No Evil (2024). Before moving into directing, Watkins had a first-look writing deal with Working Title Films from 2001 to 2007, under which he wrote several screenplays, including My Little Eye. He has also written screenplays for Warner Bros., Pathé, Film4 and BBC Films.
Watkins will next direct the DC Universe horror superhero film Clayface (2026).
Television
Watkins directed the Black Mirror episode "Shut Up and Dance" (2016). He directed all six episodes of The Ipcress File (2022) and served as an executive producer. He co-created and co-wrote McMafia (2018) with Hossein Amini and directed all eight episodes.
Filmography
Film
Television
